User Review: Gura Gear Kiboko 30L Backpack

Outside of a camera and lens, I'd argue that few things can have as much impact on your photographic travels as your camera bag. And over the years, I've come up with a wish list for the perfect bag. For starters, it needs to be compact and light, yet able to hold a multitude of items in a way that makes each one accessible at a moment's notice. And because I'm often hiking to my destination, it should be comfortable to carry over long distances and be water-resistant.

In my quest for the perfect bag, I've tried most of the big name brands. And while they all touted different features and strengths, I've found many of them to be too bulky and uncomfortable to carry. Another big issue for the locales in which I typically shoot is the amount of dust, dirt and sand that ends up in the bag itself, no matter how careful I am.

Recently though, I had the opportunity to test a bag from a small company you may not be familiar with. The company is Gura Gear. Its founder, Andy Biggs, is himself a wildlife photographer. His background as a seasoned professional shows through in the designs of the Gura Gear bags. They're simple, practical and even ingenious in some respects.

Currently Gura Gear has just three products in its lineup, a shoulder bag and two backpacks. I tested its largest bag the Kiboko 30L backpack. As the name implies, it has a 30 liter volume capacity, which is sufficient to hold just about anything I'd reasonably want to bring on a professional photo expedition.

Upon receiving the Kiboko 30L, I had two conflicting impressions. Its unique design - two separate flaps that open in a butterfly style - immediately won me over (more on their significance in a bit). Yet I must admit that the bag looks quite small and well, cheap.

The Kiboko 30L features an innovative two-compartment 'butterfly' design so that you can access only the gear you need, while the rest remains protected from the elements.

The waist belt is removable and the entire harness system retracts into built-in zippered sleeves, giving the bag a slimmer profile for convenient hand carrying or stowage.

Fortunately, the Kiboko 30L only looks small. After spending a few weeks using the bag, the word 'compact' seems to be a more suitable description. Indeed, nearly all of the gear I usually pack into my LowePro Trekker 600 – whose footprint is more than twice that of the Kiboko – fits comfortably in the Gura Gear backpack. I can carry two DSLR bodies, 6-8 lenses, filters and the usual bits and pieces. The only point where the bag's two compartment design struggled even a bit was with my Canon 1Ds Mark III with an attached custom L-bracket. It’s a tight fit, but it does go in.

The 'cheap' look that caused initial concern comes down to the use of a highly unusual material for camera bags: sailcloth. High end sailcloth is very light, extremely durable and anything but inexpensive. In my time using the bag it had to endure mud, sand, rock and other unpleasant and sharp surfaces. And the external fabric has come through no worse for the wear. The weight savings you get with this material is an added bonus. The unpacked weight of the Kiboko 30L is only 4 pounds/1.8 kilos which is about half the weight of some competitors' comparably sized offerings. And one actual benefit to a 'cheap-looking' bag is that it doesn't cry out, 'Camera bag! Expensive equipment inside!'.

There are several innovative ideas built into that bag that make a big difference. The rain cover can be retrieved from its compartment and fitted over the bag in seconds (doesn’t sound very sexy, I know, but very important when the need for it suddenly arises). The entire harness can be stowed away, which turns the Kiboko into a handbag with grips on the top and one side. The most ingenious idea however is the butterfly style front flap. The bag is basically divided into two main compartments, each accessible separately.

With two separate side-by-side compartments you can reach the gear you need while keeping one compartment completely zipped.

And unlike traditional single flap designs, these flaps, when open don't sit on the mud or dirt surface, minimizing the chance of debris being transferred to your stowed gear.

This means less exposure to the elements for your gear and less dirt, dust and sand in the bag. And the customizable layout of the bag (which comes with a generous supply of Velcro dividers) makes it easy to access any piece of equipment in an instant.

For me, however, all of these features take a back seat to my comfort. Can I carry my gear for hours without ending up with a broken back? The Kiboko 30L is without question the most comfortable backpack I ever used. The bag's compact design coupled with its high quality adjustable harness makes for a great fit and feel.

A bag with great features means little if its literally a pain to carry. Yet even after a three-hour hike the Kiboko still felt pleasantly comfortable on my back.

In addition to the Kiboko 30L, Gura Gear offers a smaller 22 liter capacity backpack (left) as well as a 24 liter capacity shoulder bag (center).

One glaring omission for me though is the lack of a means to carry a pro level tripod. You can attach a small travel/holiday oriented tripod, but not the more substantial ones a dedicated landscape photographer like me needs to use. At this price - and for the user at which its aimed - I would also like to see security straps (like the ones below) included. It would also be nice to have waterproof seams along the zippers.

Security straps like the ones shown here are probably not high on most photographers' must-haves lists. But if a zip fails these straps can prevent a major loss of equipment. As such, I would have liked to have seen them included with the Kiboko 30L.

At a retail price of US$429, the Kiboko 30L is one of the more expensive photo backpacks on the market, but the use of top-grade materials and a five year warranty do help soften the blow. Overall I find the Kiboko 30L to be a fabulous backpack and I highly recommend it to any serious landscape, wildlife or outdoor photographer who travels regularly with a large amount of equipment.

What I like

Very lightweight

Comfortable to carry

Unique 'butterfly' compartment design

Easy access to equipment

Compact appearance with impressive capacity

Retractable harness

Removable waist belt

What I don't like

Very expensive

No harness for pro level tripods

Lacks waterproofing along zipper seams

No security straps

Carsten Krieger is a professional landscape and wildlife photographer based in the West of Ireland and author of several books on the Irish landscape and nature. To find out more about his work please visit his website: www.carstenkrieger.com.

Comments

Fantastic feat of engineering, I love the compact design. This is something for the career man, however, maybe for the every man I would suggest something from say amazonbasics or a generic. However, I was only looking for something Canon EOS compatible... and I'm not a pro yet!

As an avid safari photographer I'd been looking for something more lightweight than the mainstream camera bags. For those who aren't aware, many african airlines place weight restrictions on your total luggage (20kg). So in my quest to find a lightweight bag with sufficient protection for all of my gear I came across the Kiboko 30L. Despite its name (Kiboko means hippo in Swahili) as Carsten points out it only weighs 1.8kg.

It doesn't look like a camera bag, so I don't get asked many questions when transiting through Africa, it fits all of my gear in it:Nikon 200-400mm f/4Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8Nikon 50mm f/1.4Nikon 16-35mm f/4Nikon D4Nikon D800Nikon 1.4x TCNikon 2.0x TCFujitsu life book tabletChargers, spare batteries, filters, you name it.

The only thing that I really yearned for was a place to properly store my laptop. Bang, along comes the Kiboko 22L. Surprisingly everything fits in this smaller model.

After reading this review I just had to put in my two cents. I purchased the Kiboko bag when it 1st came out. No it is not cheap. However, after 3 trips to Africa, one trip to Europe, the Caribbean, and multiple other trips around North America I can give a pretty solid view. In Africa on multiple occasions I had to crawl through the Bush dragging this bag behind me while it was tied my leg, so I could get into position to get the shots I needed. I have completely and totally used this bag, and yet it still lives. I would recommend this bag to anybody who is serious about their craft. Not only is this bag built to last, but it has successfully fit in all of the overhead compartments of both the large and small aircraft I have flown on. The harness system works great and is comfortable. This is by far the best and most versatile camera bag I have had the privilege to purchase. I also purchased the Chobe bag for trips requiring less gear. And it is equally as impressive. Thanks.

First, I'm a NOVICE photographer that realized on day one a bag can make or break a traveling photographic trip. Not really knowing what I was doing, I bought about 8 bags. They were all good bags such as Kato, Lowepro, and Tarmac, but something was always missing. Then one day I ran across a review about a eclectic little company! The bag was the Kiboko 30L and I instantly took a double take. I got it and LUV'd it! I couldn't believe how light and durable it was. I also couldn't believe how much stuff I get in it. What is really a design god sent is that it fits nicely in a planes overhead bin even in the smaller bin sizes. When the company came out with there Chobe 24L I ordered it immediately. I now, with both bags, can stuff everything I need on a day trip. I agree with others that the one thing missing is a tripod clip. While the bag is not cheap, in my humble opinion as a novice, this is the BEST bag on the market for what it is designed for. Don't let the price scare you off.

Guys, here is my position: any landscape photographer needs to workout hard in the gym. One simultaneously will also get more healthy. Even by the end of one's life gym will help. Well, at least most of the photographic life may become more pleasant. And cameras get lighter too!

Personally, I only use these kinds of packs for hauling gear to a shoot on location, like for an ad shoot. I never use this stuff for my landscape images, while doing back country excursions which are often multi-day, several thousand feet of vertical loss or gain and yield by *far* the best images I make.

I have long since made my own system for carrying pro gear, D800, light weight 4x5 field camera, etc, with me on trips that yield truly exceptional and professional results. The system is simple, no one trick ponies, make as many things as you can do more than one thing. Use a beanie instead of a lens case...I can not wear a lens case if it starts snowing... So we have yet another pack with no room for the most important equipment a good outdoor photographer needs, food, water, spare clothing, etc. Thanks, but no thanks...

I too find it amazing so few camera bags allow space for anything else.

I don't do landscape that seriously but I often fly internally to a shoot and stay one or two nights there and then home. A single carry on that has a clothing compartment that can be left in the hotel and a camera bag that can be taken on location would be a great boon.

Like Galen Rowell, many of us like to create images in the backcountry. Next month I, along with my d800E/tripod/70-200/16-35/etc., my 52-yo wife, and several friends, will climb a number of 14,000-foot peaks in the "Chicago Basin" in the southern Rockies. We are okay with carrying 45-60 lbs several miles up mountainous slopes. We don't get cramps. Our backs don't ache. And some of the photos ain't bad.

Just sayin' -- one man's absurdity is another's bliss. Who's to judge?

p.s. For the Facebook pix I'll bring the S100, too -- the S95 died without warning in Durban last December due to "lens error."

Yeah, but you are doing the approach with that, not standing on Sunlight Spire with it. Ultimately, this kind of pack is for hauling gear to a location and spending maybe a couple hours there, it is not for true back country excursions.

Have fun in Chicago Basin, beware of the goats getting at your food and climb safe. Those peaks are some of my favorite 14'rs, and I have done them all...

I think it's absurd to carry all your gear in one bag strapped to your back and go hiking or really to walk any long distances.

If you want to have cramps and back problems go for it.

Ever since getting a belt system, I will never carry a camera backpack on long trips ever again. You can walk around for hours with the weight around your waist rather than weighing down your spine. They can put all the padding and straps on the bag they want, it makes no difference.

You've got everything covered but image quality. I took my 5D Mark II, lenses, and an S95 on a three week trip last year. I really enjoyed hiking with the S95; it was effortless. But when it came time to process my images I was always sorry I didn't make the effort to bring the 5D2. It's not that the S95 images were bad but compared to the IQ of the 5D2 files it wasn't even close. I realize I'm stating the obvious here but you seem to gloss over that aspect of the comparison.

I shoot primarily with my 5D2 bodies with lots of L glass (professionally). I also recently invested in micro 4/3, which I'm really excited about.

Some of what I said about traveling light I do stand behind. With too much gear weighing one down, photo ops become more limiting. With a lightweight system weighing 5 lbs, I can easily dayhike 15 to 20 miles, depending on terrain. With 30 lbs of photo gear, I can probably do 10-12 but it'll be tough and I won't be shooting that much.

No question...the IQ from my 5D2 system will blow away my S95. The m4/3 system that I recently invested in will be a good compromise.

Like another poster wrote, you're sacrificing IQ - even if you're being sarcastic. I recently took a vacation where I would be doing a lot of hiking and I'm a senior citizen with back problems. I left the 5D2 and "L" glass home and brought a NEX-7 & Zeis lens, plus the kit lens. I didn't even feel the weight (only about a pound) and IQ is about as good as the 5D2, even in low light. Now, whenever I pick up the 5D2 it feels like a sack of bricks. I'm sold on the mirrorless system with one exception - when I'm shooting an event where the subjects are moving fast, the Sony simply isn't up to the task - auto focus is poor. So, I've got to use the 5D2. I just make sure that I don't have to carry it too far. And, I don't need an expensive backpack.

In my experience, the NEX-7 can provide IQ comparable to the 5D2, but only at lower ISOs. Anything above 400, forget about it.

Regardless, unless I'm shooting something for a project (paid or personal) that requires me to have quality images, I'm willing to sacrifice some IQ for comfort. I hike because I like to hike; often times the photography is secondary (again, unless it's for an assignment or personal project). My m4/3 camera provides perfectly adequate IQ, similar to my old 5D1 at low ISOs.

Also, I rarely print photos myself. Good IQ is necessary for clients, or for those few 20x30 inch and larger prints I occasionally make, but most of my hiking photos are only seen on a computer monitor, and the quality provided by the m4/3 cameras are more than enough.

If you have to put the tripod on the side where it's unbalanced, then it's not a hiking pack. Is there only one water holder? Can you strap a tent or any other gear on there?

Stop saying these are hiking packs when they're really just nice summer strolling packs. You cant go hiking with just camera gear... or if u do, then you are either ill prepared or not really hiking anywhere even remotely tough.

Hmm ... upon rereading I guess it isn't advertised as a hiking pack... oops

Few camera packs are really appropriate for serious 'hiking,' as I think you're defining it. For day hikes, though, this one works well. Water bottle held opposite side from tripod. No external storage. I keep food and light jacket inside. Day hikes only.

I find this plenty secure. I find only two minor drawbacks:(1) balance a bit off(2) the tripod extends above the back of the pack instead of dropping down. This can make scrambling through brush or under trees a bit more awkward, imo.

I really like it, especially the weight savings and the ease with which the zippers work. I'll take these 'fast' zippers with a raincover over the sticky, sealed zippers anyday.

Marc, sometimes we have to take health issues into consideration. I'm one of those who criticised this bag for having no proper harnessing for a tripod. 12 years ago I underwent surgery to remove a cervical hernia, and this made me especially aware of these issues. Carrying an unbalanced package for hours may end up compromising your spine. I'm a strict amateur - I don't make a living out of photography -, and I don't think it is worth compromising my health just for the sake of getting some good shots. Maybe I'd think otherwise if I were a pro. As I said before, I used to have a sling bag; I had to replace it for a Lowepro Pro Runner 300 backpack because long walks were starting to become painful. My new backpack carries the tripod dead-centre, properly harnessed and with a very clever pouch at the base to accomodate the feet, in order to lower its position. It works - all for a third of the Kiboko's price. As you see, the "no tripod" comments are not completely unfounded.

Point well taken. I totally agree that health has to come first. I also have a Lowepro with center tripod holder and agree that it's easier to handle the heavy tripod. Maybe I read the original review wrong, but it seemed to imply to me that a large tripod couldn't be held at all.

I own tons of bags -- the dreaded photographer's 'bag collector' problem. I specifically bought this one for its light weight (for its size), and would again. I was luck enough to get it at a discount barely used.

Neither lashing a tripod to the side of a pack (worst) or back of a pack (almost as bad) work for me. Either the pack is unbalanced or the weight is hanging too far away from my body. What really works well for me is attaching the tripod horizontally across the top of the pack. It is balanced and close-in to my body. The disadvantage is that it is wider than my body—I have to turn sideways occasionally to pass through a narrow passage—but the increased comfort is well worth it.

When you have carbon fibre legs and carry the head - which is considerably heavier than the legs - inside the backpack, the weight is not that far away from the body... and does your bag have harnesses to hold a tripod as you describe? I've seen bags that hold the tripod at the bottom - which lowers the centre of gravity -, but never at the top. What bag is that?

I've been using the Mountainsmith Borealis AT for over a month now. I love it.It holds my d800E and four lenses (including a 70-200) -- in the bottom half. Elsewhere it has a laptop/Camelbak compartment, plenty of space for camera accessories and outdoor gear - jacket, lunch, water, first aid kit, etc. etc.

My Gitzo lashes on in several places.

Its made of stout (recycled) material with heavy-duty, water-shedding zippers.And it has a removal rainjacket.

Perhaps best of all, it has a sturdy waistbelt that transfers much of the weight to your hips.

It has no side/sling entry. But my d800E landscapes all require a tripod anyway. I carry a shirtpocket Canon S100 for wildlife and other snaps.

I don't know what camera you have, but a pocket is not an ideal camera bag at all. It is warm and humid, and not well padded to protect the camera from a bump from the outside world.

I have both a small and larger interchangeable lens camera. Sometimes the small one is more appropriate. But often it's not. You are restricting yourself to cameras that fit in your pocket, I won't argue with your choice but be aware that you don't have to be a "pro" to want better image quality, and narrower depth of field, than any camera that fits in a pocket can give.

The Vertex 200 is clearly not a direct competitor to the GG bag. Perhaps if you look at the outside dimensions, but frankly, doing this can be misleading. I can fit the same amount of gear in my GG bag as I can in a Protrekker 600, a bag that is significantly larger and more expensive than the Vertex. As several of us have said, you can get two pro sized bodies, a super telephoto lens, four or more zoom lenses and even more in the GG bag. No way all this will fit in the Vertex 200. But if you don't need to carry a lot of gear, you don't need this bag, so why even comment. I certainly don't need my GG when I am only carrying my S100 around.

Based on the images and the 2 camera bodies + 10 lenses and flashes, laptop, misc junk I can cram into the lowepro it's a perfect comparison. Not only that but it's pretty important to be able to carry a tripod on the pack.

I highly doubt any more can be put in this bag than the Lowepro I mentioned.

If it's worth an extra $200 to save a couple of pounds for you have at it. It's not a bike and at the end of the day the 2 pounds isn't going to make my back and shoulders feel any better. On the other hand, not having to carry my tripod in my hands might save my butt when I slide on some damp rocks while out hiking.

If you are carrying $25,000 of camera equipment and don't care about spending $500 for a back-pack then why not just pay someone to carry it for you.

If a bag has a laptop slot with a separate zipper, a "camelbak" style large water bladder can be stashed in the laptop slot. I have done this for a small bag. Also, "accessory" Camelbaks in nylon envelopes with tackle straps can be strapped to the outside of other bags. For shorter trips, two quart water bottles can be carabiner-ed onto belts, D rings, whatever.

This looks like an aspirational pack. Holds an 800mm f5.6 lens! What it doesn't mention is if it can be configured to hold some amount of ordinary camping gear as well.

There is no laptop compartment and this is not a camping/backpacking bag, but if you don't have a lot of camera gear, you can always carry the camera gear in one half and camping equipment for a day trip in the other. In one half of the bag I can fit a pro body, two big zoom lenses (like 70-200), two smaller zooms and batteries.

I shoot with a Panasonic G3, a 20mm Aspherical lens, 14-42mm (28-84 equiv) a 45-200mm (90-400mm equiv) and a couple of legacy lenses, and everything fits inside a tiny LowePro belt bag. BELT BAG, ok? And the best part is, that RAWs are better quality than Canon's APS-C 18MP sensors. I know for a fact, since I used to own the 60D. HEHE. I love it. No need for these dinosaur camera bags and carrying so much weight. Let's just wait for what Schneider and Sigma will develop for m43, and more and more people will start looking into m43, seeking relief to their sore shoulders.

I bought one shortly after it came out and LOVE it. My previous bag was a Lowepro Roadrunner AW which I still have, but very rarely use now. I bought the Kiboko 30L for international travel, but now use it all the time. The Roadrunner AW has wheels and is very secure....but very heavy (15+ lbs.?) The Kiboko 30L is about 4 pounds - a huge benefit.

I travel with a Canon 400mm DO lens, a 70-300mm L, 1.4X TC, a 7D and a 60D cameras, a medium weight carbon fiber tripod, flash, 18-135mm lens, etc. No problem fitting that all in/on the bag with quick access to everything.

The biggest challenge I see in travel outside the U.S. is the common 7 kg (15 lbs) weight limit for carry-on baggage. My experience is airlines enforce this. With the Kiboko I can pack my 2 cameras, and lenses and still be under. Plus although it is slightly longer than international length limits, it is soft and can easily be compressed to fit into the allowed volume. Never had a problem.

Where did you get 7kg carry on limit from? I am flying in Europe and none of the airlines I used there had that limit (Lufthansa, BA etc) all state in fact that the weight of the carry on bag should be such that you yourself should be able to put it into overhead locker. The lockers on different planes also limited to hold certain amount of weight but usually it comes down to 20-23 kg per bag.

To RBFresno:My 'facts' are simply based on the fact that I just flew by Lufthansa from Germany to UK carrying photo backpack weighting 21kg with me on a airplane. I was asked at checking if I take it as a hand luggage and that is all. Besides, your 'facts' do confirm at least BA part of what I said.

I just wanted to point out to those who might not have known, that there is quite a bit of varaiability of weight, size, and enforcement, among airlines about carry on baggage. I'd hate to see someone attempting to carry on 20+ kgs and then be surprised by being denied or having to pay surplus charges.

For my uses, a single backpack, like lenses, will not meet all of my needs. That's why I have several, ranging from small bags that carry just a camera and a lens or two, to larger cases and packs that can hold tripods, gimbal and standard heads,multiple long lenses, multiple bodies, water, food, etc.I can think of a number of scenarios where the 30L would be poorly suited, and other scenarios where it would be close to ideal.I'm surprised by the number of comments in this thread that seem to imply one pack/bag is "the best". No such thing, any more than which of my lenses is the "best".For my recent trip to Tanzania, for my needs, the 30L was great.

I have been frequently flying around europe for 20 years (business and pleasure) and have been repeatedly pulled up for excess weight of hand baggage... (Swiss Airlines mostly..)

It's less now that you print your own boarding cards (and hence don't have to check-in at the airport) but i've even had the case taken off my at the gate when the plane was full of business people who always bring too much stuff in their hand luggage plus laptop etc and they were struggling to fit it all in the overhead lockers..

I wouldnt' want my camera gear going in the hold withoutit being in a secure or padded case..

Where did I get the 7 kg limit for carry-ons? - Air New Zealand both internally and internationally. I have flown there 3 times from the U.S. in the last 4 years, and had my carry-on weighed on every flight. The 30L saved my neck as I was under the limit by only a few grams. Also Virgin Australia.

I always wonder, if you are packing this on a 3 to 4 hour hike, full of equipment, where to you pack the 2 quarts of water, plus snacks. If you start out on a 3 to 4 hour hike here in Texas without enough water when it is hot, you can forget about making it back.

Interesting concept, but the price puts them well above solutions from Think Tank or Photobackpacker (a bit different philosophy - directed to large format users) - so the bag should really be freakin' excellent to be worth the money.

After buying six different backpacks, I bought the GuraGear Kiboko and it is the best camera bag I own. It holds everything I need on a major trip: 2 pro bodies, 500 f4, four other zoom lenses, hoods, two teleconverters, memory cards, rain covers, batteries, ball head, etc. It fits in US aircraft overhead storage bins including regional planes. The backpack is good enough for short hikes of less than a couple of miles. I've retired my LowePro Pro Trekker and sold several other bags. It is just as waterproof as all my other bags, which albeit don't have the special waterproof (and hard to operate) zippers a very few bags have. Two fellow photogs who have seen me use mine are now shopping for a Kiboko themselves. I do admit it is expensive, but considering that I carry well over $10,000 of gear in it and travel with it on some trips that cost many thousands of dollars, a few hundred dollars is a small investment.

I think there are many use cases for this bag and it isn't always hiking miles with photo gear. Part of the biggest challenge we sometimes face is just getting our gear from point A to point B on an airplane. I don't know of any other bag that can hold what this one does and still make it into overhead luggage bins on smaller aircraft. Having an using a backpack style bag does not automatically assume extreme hiking. Also, I've had my Gitzo 2541L attached to the bag and I don't remember having issues with it.

I never strap my tripod to my bag. I have a Gitzo 3541XLS which would overwhelm any camera bag including my gigantic LowePro Pro Trekker. I simply carry my tripod in my hand or over my shoulder. I am a member of two camera clubs and have taken a dozen photo workshops out in the boonies. None of the dozens of photographers I know strap their tripods to their backpacks; every one carries theirs in their hands.

I've been looking at the Gura Gear bags for a while now, and so far what has stopped me was the high price. But I discovered today that there no waterproofing on the zippers, for me it's a big issue. The rain cover is used when you have a lot of rain for a long time, but for minor shower it's usually more an annoyance that you avoid due to the normal weather proofing of your bag. At least that what I'm doing with my many bags from other competitors that have sealed zippers.

Personally I find "waterproof" zippers a bit of a fake. If there is only light rain or a short downpour normal zippers will hold back the water, if it is bucketing down for longer you need the rain cover anyway. I live in Ireland and believe me I know about rain!C.

This is wedding photographer backpack. Landscape photographers use huge backpacks with lots of stuff for several days survival. And there must be only two really good cameras. 1. Large format camera for shooting 200Mpx incredible shots. 2. Lightweight cameras always within reach. Fuji TX-1 (Hasselblad Xpan) is the best choice, but DSLR will do, too.Yeah, this my IMHO.superka-photo.com

An advertorial is an addendum (usually a pullout or separate section) of a publication with content written or commissioned by the advertiser, accompanied by an actual advertisement from that company in the publication.

This article is a user review by a site contributor whose landscape photography tutorial ranks as the most read photo technique article we've published to date. Apparently some of our readers respect his opinion;-). Hence the review of a piece of gear important to anyone who has a lot of gear to carry on their photographic journeys.

The 2-section 'butterfly' opening is clever, but this bag is absurdly expensive. I can't see anything that justifies the high price. On the contrary, the lack of harness for a tripod is a real deal breaker. My Lowepro 300 AW backpack may be heavier and slightly less practical, but it costs less than 1/3 of this bag's price, is weatherproof and carries any tripod comfortably. Thanks but no thanks.

I'd like to follow up on some of the comments. Yes, the Kiboko 30L comes with a raincover and it works very well, quick to put on and off and it does what it's supposed to do.For longer hikes (6 hours or more) I use a belt bag for food and water goes into the side pockets of the Kiboko. Alternatively I only take basic equipment (1 body, 2 lenses) and assign one half of the Kiboko to food, water and other necessities. As for the weight... I like my SLR and as long as I can I am happy to carry the weight. Carsten

I've used numerous different "solutions" from various manufacturers to the problem of lugging FF DSLR kits around. However well designed they are - and no doubt this product is - the problem is ultimately the total weight, particularly if you also need to carry food, water, waterproofs etc.The solution is to use smaller cameras and lenses. I recently bought an OM-D. What a revelation. The day of the dinosaur DSLR is surely numbered.BTW the price of this bag is simply insane.

I somehow find backpacks are very inconvenient when you need to quickly draw out or in your equipment. Also you will need to place your backpack on a firm ground before opening the same. I had purchased the Crumpler backpack thinking it would ease the weight on my shoulder but discovered it is far too difficult to walk around. I guess it is good for trekking / climbing.After too many permutations and combinations I have finally discovered my comfort bag i.e Retrospective 30 which houses my 5D3 and 3 L lenses and 580 EX comfortably. Yet shoulder padding of this bag is not good enough.Still looking for better bags than this. Somebody has to come out with a magical design.

Nothing beats a good, well-designed backpack for ergonomics and weight distribution. Now there are lots of sling bags that promise fast access to the equipment, but they put too much stress on one side of the body and especcially on the neck. And they're not practical for carrying tripods. I had one of these sling bags, one from Lowepro: it was OK for short hikes, but it made my neck and left shoulder hurt after moderately long walks. There's really no alternative to backpacks when you carry the full monty - but they needn't be as expensive as this one!

I had the same problem until i found this baghttp://www.tamrac.com/5550.htmthis is the tamarac adventure 10, it has enough space for my equipment and for the traveling needs for a days journey and even more if you travel light

At the risk of sounding like I'm advertising the brand, I'd recommend Lowepro's Pro Runner backpacks. They're ergonomically well-designed, have a clever tripod harness, are weatherproof, roomy and highly customizable. And they're not expensive, too. Not too esoteric, I know, but a practical and no-nonsense design nonetheless.

The LowePro Flipside backpacks open from the back and they've been around for at least a few years now. I have a 300AW and love it. With the hip belt around my waist, I can hang the bag off the front of me and swap gear while I'm walking (though I usually stop).

This is one of the things I like about my Kata 3-in-1 30. It opens from the side with the panel hinged at the bottom. It's very easy to access. My wife uses a tamrac where you have to unzip the bottom from the top and it's a total PIA.

As a separate issue, too many camera backpacks lack a way to attach or hold a water bottle.

My Lowepro Flipside 400AW opens at the back. I use it all the time so it must be good because stuff that isn't ends up gathering dust very quickly.

I regularly carry a Sony A77 with CZ 16-80 attached (with lens hood attached ready to shoot). Sony 70-300G, Sony 500mm mirror, Sony 11-18mm (hood attached and ready) and a Minolta 28mm F2. There is still room for a gorilla pod tripod if I am not taking my monopod which fits nicely into the tripod strap.

If I know I will be using one of the long lenses right away such as when visit a bird sanctuary or whatever then it can easily be configured to carry the gear that way.

Not to say this bag isn't excellent on its own merits, but, can this hold a modest number of non-photo related accessories, like water (preferably in a camelbak bladder), food, flashlight, clothing for inclement weather? If not, how can this bag truly give you the ability to carry your gear for hours?

I second that. In my view, the biggest deficiency of photo backpacks is that they almost always pay no attention to weather issues. I mean, it's fine that you can carry a lot of equipment, but I'd like to see some degree of weather proofness as well. For example, a rain cover for the back pack would be appreciated, as well as some option to store water, food and additional clothes.

As I see this backpack, it's mostly for driving yourself to a point, hiking for a couple of hours (in fairly good weather), then hike back, and continue to the next point. I wouldn't use this if I have to hike all day, say 5-6 hours at least.

I think it does come with a rain cover. To me this backpack would be too big, the 22L might be better but still seems a bit bulky (laptop compartment not required), the way I see this bag being better utilised would be camera gear in one half (I really don't want to carry that much gear on a hike/trek, not even a massive telephoto lens), and then travel essentials in the other, food, water, sunscreen, etc, etc, there also seem to be a couple of thinner, smaller compartments on the front of the bag. The missing tripod support does seem like quite an oversight. It certainly looks interesting although a couple simple enhancements would make it even better.

The 2002ish Mountainsmith Paragon was a great camera bag with a large duffel added to the bottom of it. I really wish they had kept this line going with a few updated features. Top access was perfect for the D70 I had, but it a little tight with a D200/D300.

Don't more photographers leave their camera strap on when storing their cameras? Bags never seem to take this into consideration.

I like my 30L and my 22L for foreign travel. They are a little smaller and lighter than many other bags yet hold a good amount of equipment.

See if you can sign up for the Gura Gear web site as they sometimes send out $50 discounts.

They are incredible in backing up their bags. I bought the 22L early last fall. Then in March I got an email that they had discovered a "defect" that I had never encountered and they sent me a completely new bag paying postage for the new bag and the return of my old bag. Indeed, they sent the new bag by 2 day delivery.

I had the 30L but currently use the 22L. The 22L fits all of my gear just fine since I don't have any really big long lenses. The 22L has a laptop compartment that is very important to me with carry on luggage restrictions.

Thanks, Carsten, hope you will keep looking and letting us know what you find. I hike and shoot in the mountains here in Oregon with a day pack carrying camera gear, food, a rain jacket, headlamp, etc. and I still haven't found a lightweight pack that can carry it all, plus a tripod.

Hey Mike, I don't pack my tripod, I just extend one leg and use it as a walking stick, of course it's much better to have a light well built tripod. I've had a Bogen for 20yrs now, have had to repair it with J-B weld a couple of times but it still works great. It definitely beats the hell out of having to carry it on your back, plus if you need it quick you've got it right in your hands. One bit of advice, always use the same leg so you don't damage different legs.

I have two friends that have this backpack and they like it very much! Like others here, I need a backpack that can carry other personal items other than my photo gear when I'm out. Especially when hiking or traveling by plane, I need to have options to carry laptop, some clothing, toiletries and nutrition and other obscure items. Have yet to find one be-all solution.

I bought this backpack because it is the lightest of all and contains a 600 f4 with a camera body mounted, or a 800 5.6 with no body. Lightness is the size is important in European and international air travel. The dimensions are those required by the airlines, although some company, not just low cost, always finds a way to create difficulties when there are many passengers in flight. The cost is very high, but for me it was the only solution. It has no space for the computer. In my case, after a few days of safari in Tanzania, the zips have had major problems to flow, certainly for the dust that came in the car during transfers. I had to endure this for the rest of the trip, because it is not clean enough. Once back home I washed, but it was not enough. I had to put the wax and now flowing well.

I have the 30L Kiboko. I just tried putting my Benro carbon fibre flat Travel Tripod in and it is a perfect fit. Not with the ball head, of course. This tripod is quite light. I have the largest travel tripod but there is also one that is a bit shorter and slightly lighter. So the Kiboko will accommodate a big tripod.